Tax Time!

I always feel that April is one of the most difficult months to get through in my profession and personal life.

On the work side, you have commencement, and speaker bio research along with Honorary Degree candidate profiles to complete. And then there's also the final projects for my MSLIS degree.

On the personal front, there's taxes, Holy Week, Easter, Birthdays and Wedding Anniversaries, Spring Cleaning, and the annual Bahamas vacation.

I'm not complaining, but it can get a bit overwhelming at times. Any way, I have found some great sources of information available from the IRS! Go figure, right? You can actually purchase income estimates for states, counties, cities, and townships to help in your prospect identification efforts.

I'll find the URL for you all later this week when I finished my 5 page paper and powerpoint presentation tomorrow.  : / 

Wish me luck!

So Much Data So Little Time

Well, now that the Data Entry Manual is nearing completion (::APPLAUSE::), one of the (many) pressing thoughts on my mind is how to bridge the gap between how data is stored in RE and how we agreed to store data in RE. If all the components are not in place, end users will not follow the data entry instructions. So a good system for data entry problems and concerns is necessary.

After considering options, I have decided to review the RE Manual one Chapter at a time and compile a list of changes that need to be made. Though this is slower going, the end users will find it easier and less time-consuming to enter the data and thus be more likely to do it.

Priority Tabs:
Attributes
Relationships: Education
Volunteer
Prospect
Appeals
Honor/Memorial

To see the current draft copy, please go here: LIU RE Data Entry Policies and Procedures Manual

Work To Do:
Revisit LIU Affinity Score
Create revision list for RE
Look into Prospect Rating and Management Systems

Personal To Do:
Post on personal Blog
Register for Spring Library courses
Work on Resume
Finish Censorship Paper

Skittish Researchers

Normally I'm pretty mellow and forgiving of people.


Today? Not so much. I have to admit, I am VERY low on patience today and being very busy as well, some one giving me a birthday card would turn me from this:

 into this:

 

I have been following the WSJ series "What They Know" out of personal interest and academic curiosity. The article they published this morning discusses the current administration's call for instituting privacy laws on the internet. This IS a good thing.

I come into my office and find an email from another Prospect Researcher:

I wanted to bang my head against the wall. I immediately wrote a response that I promptly saved as an email draft so as not to emasculate this poor soul. It goes as follows:

Dear  _______,

While people should be educated about our industry [prospect research], I don’t think we should over react to this series of articles. I have been following it in WSJ for a personal research project. This series has been ongoing and focuses on Internet marketers in the for-profit sector, who construct databases with personally identifiable information (thereby jeopardizing anonymity). I’m sure the government is well aware of our profession since they use the same methods in raising campaign funds and deciding what areas to visit most.

While database construction might be hampered a bit for a year or two, these information companies will find new ways around laws on obtaining information (think of how the gov’t put laws in place to regulate the trade of Futures; what was the financial world’s answer? Derivatives.)

Happy Friday,

LT 

It sits in my Saved Drafts folder in my MS Outlook. And there it shall remain...


Happy Friday!!!!

[Note: APRA is the main professional assn. for Prospect Researchers.]

Is Prospect Research Spying?

Back in May of this year (2010), the Wall Street Journal published an article highlighting the function of prospect research within the nonprofit sector. I was reminded of this article (Is Your Favorite Charity Spying on You?) while attending an alumni networking event at my Alma mater. When asked what I do by a fellow alumnus, I mentioned prospect research for fundraising and when that didn't ring a bell, I equated it with detailed market research. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "you're a spy!" To my surprise he recalled the very same WSJ article, which presents my occupation in a more business friendly--albeit less hallowed--light. Our conversation ranged from techniques to data storage and security and even to ethics.

In its response to this article APRA President, Deborah Mueller, got very defensive explaining "misrepresents the scope and purpose of donor research, and as a result misleads Journal readers about its nature and use." She goes on to explain all of the regulations we are held to legally through external laws and acts as well as internally through confidentiality and ethical agreements.

Should she really need to defend and justify a profession that is being embraced at a break-neck speed within the nonprofit world? Market research in business is known to save money and help maximize profits. In recent weeks, the Wall Street Journal has been publishing a series on data collection and market targeting called "What They Know." Facebook's data was recently hijacked by a research company. Perhaps, the WSJ is reacting to a potentiall problem within the research profession: where to draw the line.

They see the way the profit sector pushes the limits of legality everyday. (I do not know about for-profit market research empployees; however, we are generally held to a confidentiality agreement with our institution. Based on the current issues with information leaks and data hijackings, perhaps the WSJ is rightly concerned with our profession's ethics as much as it is concerned with the market researchers following children's web browsing habits.

 Perhaps the most important agreement is within ourselves.

Perhaps the most important question is: Would I want this information about me known by a stranger?

Why ask, "Why?"

Back in August, I was approached to start an MLM (Multi Level Marketing) company by a good friend of mine. Being in an MBA program and wanting to strike out on my own a bit, I listened. Knowing her to be very judicious and informed, and after much research and inquiry into the company, I joined.

The deal was great: earn residual income for every customer you signup; get a bonus for every business partner who signs up underneath you. Sounds simple, right? So like a good little MBA student, I dove right into the business sending out messages on FB and Tweeting about the money saving products and services. The products and services really were great!

I signed a few people up for cell services and cable... but that ever illusive business partner was no where to be found. I needed to sign up a partner to start earning on my signups. So I contacted some like minded people to join me and be saved from their 9 - 5 drudgery.

And then came the backlash: 

        Friends on FB contacting me about spam.

        Friends asking not to be texted on this anymore.

I just wanted to save them money while making some for myself... little did I know: A person needs to WANT to be saved.

OK lesson learned... So where to from here? I decided to search for MLM support groups and mentoring. And I found it at: www.mentoringforfree.com 

So while reading his self help book, I stumbled across a section dedicated to developing you're "Why." This key concept is touted by every MLM as the cornerstone of the business. But they never coach you in developing it BEFORE you join. Only after you join.

While devoting two tireless nights to finding my "Why", I found it. My "Why" didn't exist! I was drawn purely to the money aspect. Not to the networking essence of the business or the personal freedom self-employment afforded.

(A note to all reading: in the end, money is NEVER a good "Why;" that is like becoming a doctor for the money rather than a desire to help people. If you don't love it, don't elect to pursue it.)

So I apologized to my friend and after 2 months of working on this company, I closed it. I still believe it is a genuinely good opportunity, just not for me.

I love books, information, history, data, research, food, drinks, and friends. I love my job. I love the people with whom I work (usually). I love the ability to continue my education for free and being able to hit the gym during lunch. The health insurance can't be beat. The only thing lacking is money, which while not everything, is important in the larger picture.

I don't love having to talk to people I don't know and "sell hard." Its not me. Finally realized I'm on the wrong track with the whole business thing.

OFF TO LIBRARY SCHOOL!